The pavilion of Qatar that participated in the 'Floriade Expo 2022' in the Netherlands was awarded the Excellence Award in Hospitality, which is among the five distinguished awards announced during the exhibition's closing ceremony on October 9, 2022.
The award was received by Eng. Mohammad Ali Al Khoury, Commissioner-General of Floriade Expo and Secretary-General of Expo 2023 Doha, and the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Netherlands HE Nasser Bin Ibrahim Al Langawi.
Throughout the six-month Expo, the Qatari pavilion under the theme 'Desert Nest' was distinguished by presenting Qatari culture, and spreading the hospitality that Qatar and its people were known for, in addition to introducing the public to the most important Qatari customs, culture and heritage.
All international and national participants were judged three times; at the beginning, middle, and end of the Expo, taking two full days for each visit, by an expert jury of nine representing the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), the organisation responsible for approving, regulating, and monitoring World Horticultural Expos; Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) the Intergovernmental Organisation in charge of overseeing all international Expos, and the Dutch Horticultural Council (NTR) the license holder and co-organiser of the Floriade Expo 2022.
During the awarding ceremony, AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe said: "Everyone was made to feel welcome in Qatar. So, they rightly received the Hospitality Award."
Briercliffe added: “Not only could you experience the Guinness World Record’s tallest 3D printed pigeon tower, but you could also taste the coffee and try on the traditional dress. It was like being in Qatar and a great way to welcome visitors to their A1 World Horticultural Expo opening in just one year.”
Qatar Pavilion, which is organised by the Ministry of Municipality, also received a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records for "The tallest tower made of 3D-printed concrete” during the Expo. The tower is 12.1M tall and weighs 56 tonnes, and it took about nearly 100 hours of work in 11 days to complete.
